Light units and electrical contacts therefor



Nov. 15, 1966 c. SMITH 3,286,089

LIGHT UNITS AND ELECTRICAL CONTACTS THEREFOR Filed July 21, 1964 Arroew/E/ United States Patent 3,286,089 LIGHT UNITS AND ELECTRICALCONTACTS THEREFOR Constance L. Smith, 322 S. Lyon, Santa Ana, Calif.Filed July 21, 1964, Ser. No. 384,169 2 Claims. (Cl. 24011.2)

The present invention relates generally to electrical light units andcontacts therefor, and more particularly to portable and simple lightingmeans.

The use of electrical energy for providing light has become highlyrefined within the past four or five decades. Prior to that, vairousforms of combustible materials, particularly kerosene, gasoline, oil andthe like, were used in illuminating homes, factories and offices.

It has been recognized for some period of time that it would be highlyadvantageous to have relatively portable and uncomplicated lightingmeans for illuminating drawers, closets, tents and similar areas. Tothis end, the present invention provides such a light unit.

A new and unusual type of electrical contact was originated, whichcontact is formed of resilient or flexible material which insureselectrical continuity between a terminal and an electrical conductor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical lightunit for receiving a lamp and at least one pair of electricalconductors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electricallight unit as characterized above, which is adapted to receive theelectrical conductor merely by insertion thereof within an appropriatesocket or opening.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a light unit, ascharacterized above, formed of plastic material providing a housinghaving a cavity wherein the electrical lamp is positioned.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectrical light unit as characterized above having electrical contactsformed of flexible material biasing a terminal into engagement with theend of a conductive member.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide anelectrical contact having an arcuately shaped central portion and a pairof terminal members on opposite ends thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide light units andcontacts therefor as characterized above, which are simple andinexpensive to manufacture and which are rugged and dependable inoperation.

The novel features which I consider characteristic of my invention areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The device itself,however, both as to its organization and mode of operation, togetherwith additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understoodfrom the following description of specific embodiments when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, to which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of several light units according to thepresent invention connected in parallel circuit arrangement;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view through one of the light units ofFIGURE 1, taken substantially along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view through such light unit, takensubstantially along line 33 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is another horizontal sectional view of such unit takensubstantially along line 44 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line55 of FIGURE 4.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is shown therein lightunits 10 and 12, each of which is formed in accordance with the presentinvention. Such light units are connected together by suitableconductors 14, as will hereinafter be explained in greater detail.

FIGURES 2-5 inclusive, show the details of construction of the lightunit It), although it is readily understood that the unit 12 is ofidentical construction.

Light unit 10 is formed with a housing 16 comprising a base member 18and a cover 20 therefor. As shown most clearly in FIGURE 1, the housing18 and cover 20 are generally circular in construction, the cover 20fitting over the base member 18.

The base member is formed with an annular flange 18d, a relatively thinbottom wall 181; and an annular wall 180. The cover 20 is also formedwith an annular flange 20a, and is provided with an arcuately-shapedraised portion affording a dome 2% Which is substantially hemisphericalin construction. A partition wall 200 extends across the dome 20b on theinside of cover 20, there being a through opening 20d'formed therein ina substantially central location.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 2, the upstanding annular wall of ofbase member 18 and the generally inverted cupshaped configuration ofcover 20 cooperate to provide a cavity 22 therebetween.

Positioned within such cavity is a pair of electrical contacts 24 and26, each of which is formed with an arcuate central portion 24a and 26arespectively, and a pair of terminals at opposite ends thereof as shownat 28 and 30 with respect to contact 24, and at 32 and 34 with respectto contact 26.

It will be particularly noted that the terminal members of each contactare substantially aligned along the diameter of the substantiallysemi-circular configuration of the central portion of the respectivecontact. That is, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 4, the terminalmembers 28 and 30 are aligned along an axis or line which represents.the diameter of the arcuate shape of central portion 24a.

In like fashion, the terminal members 32 and 34 are aligned along anaxis which may be said to represent the diameter of the circular centralportion of contact 26. Each of the central portions 24a and 26a isformed of resilient or flexible material for urging the respectiveterminal members into engagement with electrical conductors, as willhereinafter be explained in detail.

Contact 24 is formed with an upstanding arm 24b which supports ahorizontal socket member 240. As will be readily apparent to thosepersons skilled in the art, the contact 24 is formed of any appropriateconductive ma terial such as aluminum, brass or the like, and isprovided with a through opening 24d, the marginal edge of socket member240 adjacent said opening being formed with a helix to provide fasteningthreads for receiving an electrical lamp 36, as shown in FIGURE 2.

Contact 26, on the other hand, is formed with a horizontal arm 26bhaving a generally circular end portion 260 for engagement with thecentrally located depending contact of lamp 36. As shown most clearly inFIGURE 2, the arm 26b is off-set, as shown at 26d, to provide a desiredbiasing force for urging the end portion of arm 26b into engagement withsuch contact of lamp 36.

The base member 18 and cover member 20 are formed along the separatingline of flanges 18a and 20a with a pair of oppositely disposed sockets38 and 40. Such sockets are so formed as to receive the end of aconductor 14 having a pair of conductive members 14a and 14b. Suchconductor 14 may be any appropriate connecting wire or the like, and inits simplest form is contemplated as being substantially identical withtelevision antenna lead wire of 300 ohms electrical resistance. In anyevent, such conductor must have conductive members which are held inpredetermined spaced relation a distance corresponding to the distancebetween the adjacent terminal members of the contacts 24 and 26.

To facilitate forming the sockets 38 and 40, it is be lieved desirableto form base member 18 with a pair of upstanding wall members adjacentsaid sockets. That is as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the base member 18adjacent the socket 38 is formed with a pair of substantially parallelwall members 18d and 18e, and as shown in FIG- URE4, member 18 is formedwith wall members 18 and 18g adjacent the socket 40. Cover member 28 isform-ed with corresponding openings in the bottom of flange 28a forslidably receiving the wall members.

Within cavity 22 of housing 16 are a pair of spacers 42 and 44 which maybe formed integrally with base member 18 and which assist in positioningthe contacts 24 and 26 such as to dispose the terminals 28 and 32 inparallel spaced relation, and the terminal members 30 and 34 in similarrelation.

As will be readily apparent to those persons skilled in the art, thecover 20 is removable from the position on the base member 18. With thecover so removed, the contacts 24 and 26 are inserted within the cavity22 within the base member 18. Such contacts are inserted so that theterminal members are arranged as above described. The spacers 42 and 44assist in accomplishing this.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, the radius ofcurvature of the inner surface of the annular upstanding wall 180 of thebase member 18 is smaller than the radius of curvature of the a-rcuatecentral portions of the contacts 24 and 26. This permits the terminalmembers to extend through the respective openings in wall 180 whileaffording a space between the various flexible central portions of thecontacts and the adjacent portions of the wall 180. This relationshipbecomes particularly significant in utilizing the flexible or resilientnature of the central portions of the contacts in maintaining engagementbetween the terminals and the conductors as will hereinafter become morereadily apparent.

Wit-h cover 20 removed from base member 18, and the contacts 24 and 26positioned as shown and described, the electrical lamp 36 can be readilyinserted in the opening 24d of the horizontally disposed socket member240. With contact 26 properly positioned the circular end portion 260thereof is disposed immediately beneath the opening 24d so that thedepending contact of the lamp is caused to engage it. Thus the contacts24 and 26 are connected in electrical continuity with the filament oflamp 36.

Thereafter, the cover 20 is slida-bly positioned on the base member 18,the flanges 20a and 18:: being thereby placed in substantially adjacentrelation.

Proper assembly of cover member 20 and base member 18 requires theupstanding wall member 18:], 18e, 18f and 18g to be inserted in theappropriate slots or openings formed in cover 20.

With the cover and base member slightly separated, the sockets 38 and 40are slightly enlarged for individually receiving the end of a conductor14. Such conductor need not be prepared in any special manner, butmerely need be cut off or trimmed at the end to expose the ends of theconductive members 14a and 14b.

Such conductors 14 are inserted in an end-wise or longitudinal directioninto the respective sockets 38 and 40 until the ends of the conductivemembers 14a. and 14b abut against the ends of the respective terminalsof the contacts 24 and 26. By applying a moderate amount of force tosuch conductors as they are inserted in the sockets, the flexible orresilient central portions of the contacts are suitably flexed so that abiasing force is developed which urges the terminals into engagementwith the respective conductive members.

Thereafter, the cover 20 is firmly pressed in place on the base member18 thereby causing the ends of the conductor 14 to be firmly gripped andheld in place.

It is contemplated that one of the conductors 14 can be connected to anysuitable source of electrical energy. Such source may be ordinaryhousehold electrical current or it may constitute a portable source suchas a battery or the like. In its simplest and perhaps most practicalform, it is contemplated that a small battery may be connected to one ofthe conductors 14, thus providing the most portable lighting unit.

As shown in FIGURES l, 3 and 4 of the drawings, several light unitsaccording to the present invention may be connected together withseveral sections of conductor 14, the oppositely disposed sockets 38 and48 being utilized to afford connection from one unit to the other.

As will be readily apparent to those persons skilled in the art, thearrangement of contacts 24 and 26 with respect to the electrical lamps,causes the various light units to be connected in parallel circuitarrangement. This means that in the event one electrical lamp burns out,the entire group of light units will not be extinguished.

It is contemplated that the subject light units can be positioned in anylocation whatever with substantially any number of light units beingused as desired. Also by utilizing small batteries as the source ofpower, an exceedingly compact device is provided in accordance with thepresent invention.

It is also contemplated that the subject light arrangement can be firmlypositioned within a drawer or cupboard merely by tacking the varioussections of electrical conductors 14 on a wall, or shelf or theunderside thereof.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a light unit andlighting arrangement which is relatively simple in construction and isparticularly well adapted for use as portable light.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of myinvention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof arepossible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted exceptinsofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A light unit com-prising in combination, a housing comprising a basemember and a cover therefor formed to provide a cavity therebetween forretaining an electrical lamp, a pair of electrical contacts supportedwithin said base member for engagement with said lamp, each of saidcontacts being formed with a semi-circular central portion of flexiblematerial and a pair of outwardly extending radial terminals at oppositeends thereof substantially aligned along the diameter of saidsemi-circular form of said central portion, said base member beingformed with a generally circular aperture for receiving said contactswith the central portions thereof in generally circularly cooperativearrangement and with one terminal of each contact in parallel spacedrelation to one of the terminals of the other contact, and a socket insaid housing at each such pair of terminals for individually receivingan electrical conductor having a pair of space conductive members forengagement with the respective terminals thereat, whereby a plurality ofsuch light units can be quickly and easily connected in parallel circuitarrangement.

2. A light unit according to claim 1 wherein said sockets are generallycircular and said conductors are inserted thereinto cause the ends ofthe conductive members to abut said terminals.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

C. R. RHODES, Assistant Examiner,

1. A LIGHT UNIT COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A HOUSING COMPRISING A BASEMEMBER AND A COVER THEREFOR FORMED TO PROVIDE A CAVITY THEREBETWEEN FORRETAINING AN ELECTRICAL LAMP, A PAIR OF ELECTRICAL CONTACTS SUPPORTEDWITHIN SAID BASE MEMBER FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LAMP, EACH OF SAIDCONTACTS BEING FORMED WITH A SEMI-CIRCULAR CENTRAL PORTION OF FLEXIBLEMATERIAL AND A PAIR OF OUTWARDLY EXTENDING RADIAL TERMINALS AT OPPOSITEENDS THEREOF SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED ALONG THE DIAMETER OF SAIDSEMI-CIRCULAR FORM OF SAID CENTRAL PORTION, SAID BASE MEMBER BEINGFORMED WITH A GENERAL CIRCULAR APERTURE FOR RECEIVING SAID CONTACTS WITHTHE CENTRAL PORTIONS THEREOF IN GENERALLY CIRCULARLY COOPERATIVEARRANGEMENT AND WITH ONE TERMINAL OF EACH CONTACT IN PARALLEL SPACEDRELATION IN ONE OF THE TERMINALS OF THE OTHER CONTACT, AND A SOCKET INSAID HOUSING AT EACH